After a nice run through the botanic gardens with Brian, Beth & Sudip (we actually got quite a few runs in during our trip…so nice having Grandma there to mind the kiddos!), we packed up and headed into the city to see the amazing Cardboard Cathedral.
The Cardboard Cathedral (the Transitional Cathedral used since the original Christchurch Cathedral was badly damaged in the Christchurch earthquake in February 2011). is the world’s only cathedral made substantially of cardboard. The stained glass windows were beautiful and the interior was amazing with all of the cardboard used as well as shipping containers for offices…a very cost conscience way of building during this interim period.
Standing on a vacant lot in the heart of Christchurch, 185 white chairs represent the 185 lives lost in the earthquake.
It is unbelievable how much damage, rebuilding and closed down roads there still are almost 4 years after the earthquake! Here is the original Christchurch Cathedral which survived the 2010 earthquake, but did not fare as well in 2011.
The Bridge of Remembrance which commemorates the gunners from Canterbury who served in World Wars I & II.
The Re:Start Mall was built after the earthquake devastation and houses retailers, food outlets and entertainment venues in brightly colored shipping containers.
We grabbed lunch and headed northwest to Hanmer Springs to visit the Thermal Pools & Spa. This place was awesome, consisting of 15 thermal and freshwater pools of varying temperatures, as well as private pools, waterslides and a children’s waterslide and activity area. We spent several hours here and had a blast!
Several of us got to spend some time on the 3 big waterslides and it was great fun!
Enjoying the lazy river
The kids had a blast here!
It was nice getting some adult only time as well! This was the soothing, mineral-rich (read: stinky sulphur) pool.
Relaxing rock pools, therapeutic pools with an array of water jets and bubbles, and a beautiful sunny day…perfection!
We had a great dinner (even better that we got to enjoy some adult conversation while the kids did this! Genius!) and then went on our way to our next destination…Kaikoura.
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